Police have confirmed that they could be digging up gardens in the street where a double murderer once lived for FIVE days.

Officers began searching through the gardens of two houses on the street where killer Christopher Halliwell lived.

Detectives are keeping tight-lipped on whether they are searching for bodies, but there has been much speculation that the taxi-driver was responsible for more murders than the two he has been convicted of.

Halliwell was last year convicted of fatally stabbing and strangling Becky Godden, 20, in 2003 and handed a full-life jail term at Bristol Crown Court.

He had already been serving a life sentence for killing a second woman, Sian O'Callaghan, after abducting her as she left a nightclub in 2011.

Christopher Halliwell was last year convicted of fatally stabbing and strangling Becky Godden

During the last trial the detective leading the investigation, DS Steve Fulcher told a jury that Halliwell hed him to believe he had killed more people.

He told Bristol Crown Court that Halliwell couldn't remember the year he had killed Becky, saying it "led me to conclude that there were other victims".

Specialist police officers are now excavating two gardens outside his former home in Broad Street, Swindon.

The former home of double murderer Christopher Halliwell

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police confirmed the work began on Monday, February 20 and was expected to last five days.

They added that the work was part of an "ongoing investigation being carried out by the Brunel Major Crime Investigation Team" and that the decision to dig the gardens was "intelligence led".

Detective Chief Inspector Jeremy Carter, who is leading the investigation, said: "Searches are being conducted in the gardens and garages of two properties in Broad Street over this coming week.

"Whilst we do not have plans, at this stage, to search inside the properties there will be some disruption to the occupants.

"I would like to make it clear that those living at the addresses have no involvement in the investigation and we thank them for their understanding and patience.

"Although we are unable to comment on the nature of our enquiries, we can say that we are acting on intelligence received."

Police search the garden of the house where Christopher Halliwell lived on Broad Street, Swindon

Superintendent Charlie Armstrong added: "We understand that this activity may cause concern for the local community and residents can expect to see a police cordon in place within the alleyways in Broad Street for the next five days.

"This should not impact upon other local residents. Officers will continue to patrol the vicinity and will be available for anyone who has any concerns relating to the searches."